ABSTRACT
Empowering struggling students to take ownership of their learning is a key facet of motivating struggling learners. In the classroom, empowerment lights up student ownership. This chapter examines the ways how one can empower students, how teachers and students can create effective goals, and the characteristics of student ownership. Teacher empower students when they are provided opportunities to be a leader. Teachers do this all the time in primary classrooms-students are line leaders, book collectors, and calendar counters. Goal-setting is both a way to empower students and for them to demonstrate ownership. Once one empower struggling students, they demonstrate three characteristics of ownership: self-efficacy, self-direction, and self-reflection. Students who have ownership in their learning typically have higher levels of self-efficacy. Teachers can empower students by providing choices, opportunities for decision-making and leadership, and scaffolding for independence. Struggling students who feel ownership in their learning are more motivated and achieve at higher levels.
